Church of the Great Martyr Saint Panteleimon (Biserica Sfântul Mare Mucenic Pantelimon) is a Romanian Orthodox church in Galați, built between 1861 and 1887 for the city’s Bulgarian Orthodox community. Historically known as the Bulgarian Church, it is now administered by the Archdiocese of the Lower Danube.
The project was led by Bulgarian archimandrite Maxim Raicovici, who had already established a Bulgarian school in Galați in 1858. Representatives of the community requested permission for the church in September 1860, and work began the following year, but repeated shortages of money slowed construction. Raicovici died in Galați in 1874 and was buried beside the church, where his tomb survives.
The Bulgarian school stood in the same compound and became an important meeting place for members of the émigré community. Bulgarian poet and revolutionary Hristo Botev lived in the school building in 1871-1872 while staying with teacher Velichko Popov, and a commemorative plaque records his time there.
Built of brick in a Byzantine style with Slavic influences, the church later gained a porch in the early 20th century. Most of the interior walls were historically left without extensive painted decoration, although the Pantocrator in the main dome was painted by Galați artist Gheorghe Th. Donev during restoration work in 1937. Further repairs followed in 1963 and in later decades.
After earthquake damage forced the Archbishopric Cathedral out of use, Saint Panteleimon temporarily served cathedral functions between 1989 and 1993. The church then resumed its parish role under the Archdiocese of the Lower Danube.
